NFL Scouting Combine: 2018 class has tough act to follow

The popular physical events at last year's NFL Scouting Combine featured dramatic results in several areas. It should be a hard act to follow when this year's 336 participating prospects put on their show of athleticism when the Combine convenes next week in Indianapolis, starting Wednesday, February 28, with on-field workouts held March 2-5. 

Last year's record-book rewrite was led by a 40-yard time of 4.22 seconds by Washington wide receiver John Ross. By the time it was over, 10 marks were good enough to rank among the best Combine results of the century in data maintained exclusively by NFLDraftScout.com, which has covered the draft since 1987. 

This year, LSU cornerback Donte Jackson already boasted that he aims to shoot down Ross' time. Even after a close look at this 2018 group, Jackson may be the only prospect with a realistic chance to touch Ross' time. 

It was nine years between 40-yard records when Ross' 4.22 bested the mark of former East Carolina running back Chris Johnson, who was clocked in 4.24 seconds in 2008. 

But the 2017 Combine class was diverse as well as dynamic. Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu exploded into the notebooks of scouts with a vertical jump of 44 inches (fifth best of the century) and a broad jump of 11 feet, 8 inches. That is second behind only the best in world history at 12 feet, 3 inches by cornerback Byron Jones, a Connecticut alum who soared into international record books at the 2015 combine.

Joining Melifonwu last year was a group of the best broad jumpers in combine history as three others recorded an 11-foot, 3-inch leap (tied for sixth best of century) —Georgia wide receiver Robert Davis, LSU wide receiver Malachi Dupre and UCLA cornerback Fabian Moreau. 

NFLDraftScout.com has covered the draft since 1987 and tracks more than 11,000 pre-draft players at any one time each year. It currently lists more than 3,800 players who are technically eligible for the 2018 draft, and rates the top 1,000. 

NFLDraftScout.com is the only draft media service, including former client NFL.com, that annually logged and analyzed draft and combine workout data back into the 1990s. 

Best Combine Workouts from 2000. Records kept by NFLDraftScout.com 

Fastest 40 Yard Dash (electronic times): 4.22, John Ross (WR); Washington, 2017: 4.24; Chris Johnson (RB), East Carolina, 2008: 4.26; Dri Archer (WR), Kent State, 2014: 4.27, Marquise Goodwin (WR), Texas, 2013: 4.28; Jacoby Ford (WR), Clemson, 2010: 4.28; J.J. Nelson (WR), Alabama-Birmingham, 2015: 4.28; Jalen Myrick (CB), Minnesota, 2017: 4.30; Triandos Luke, (WR), Alabama, 2004: 4.30; Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR), Maryland, 2009: 4.31; Carlos Francis (WR), Texas Tech, 2004: 4.31, Curtis Samuel (WR), Ohio State, 2017: 4.31; Tyvon Branch (CB), Connecticut, 2008: 4.31; Trae Waynes (CB), Michigan State, 2015: 4.31; Keith Marshall (RB), Georgia, 2016: 4.31; Justin King (CB), Penn State, 2008: 4.32; Will Fuller (WR), Notre Dame, 2016: 4.32; Jerome Mathis (WR), Hampton, 2005: 4.32; Orlando Scandrick (CB), Boise State, 2008: 4.32; Johnathan Joseph (CB), South Carolina, 2006: 4.33; Jerious Norwood (RB), Mississippi State, 2006: 4.33; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB), Tennessee State, 2008: 4.33; Brandin Cooks (WR), Oregon State, 2014: 4.33, Phillip Dorsett (WR), Miami (FL), 2015: 4.33; Darren McFadden, (RB), Arkansas, 2008: 4.33; Mike Wallace (WR), Mississippi, 2009 

Most 225-Pound Bench Reps: 49, Stephen Paea (DT), Oregon State, 2011; 45, Mike Kudla (DE), Ohio State, 2006; 45, Mitch Petrus (OG), Arkansas, 2010; 45, Leif Larsen, (DT), Texas-El Paso, 2000; 44, Dontari Poe (DT), Memphis, 2012; 44, Jeff Owens (DT), Georgia, 2010; 44, Brodrick Bunkley (DT), Florida State, 2006; 43, Scott Young (OG), Brigham Young, 2005; 42, Tank Tyler (DT), North Carolina State, 2007; 42, Russell Bodine, (OG), North Carolina, 2014; 42, Isaac Sopoaga, (DT), Hawaii, 2004; 41, Terna Nande (OLB), Miami (OH), 2006; 41, Igor Olshansky (DT), Oregon, 2004; 41, David Molk (C), Michigan, 2012; 40, Manny Ramirez (OG), Baylor, 2007; 40, Justin Blalock (OG), Texas, 2007; 39, Linval Joseph (DT), East Carolina, 2010; 39, Louis Vasquez (OG), Texas Tech, 2009; 38, Marvin Austin (DT), North Carolina, 2011; 38, Brandon Williams (DT), Missouri Southern, 2013; 38, Margus Hunt (DE), Southern Methodist, 2013; 38, Tony Pashos (OT), Illinois, 2003; 38, Russell Okung (OT), Oklahoma State, 2010; 37, Haloti Ngata (DT), Oregon, 2006; 37, Terrance Taylor (DT), Michigan, 2009 

Highest Vertical Jump: 46 — Gerald Sensabaugh, (FS), North Carolina -- 2005 45 1/2 -- Cameron Wake, (OLB), Penn State -- 2005 45 -- Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State -- 2005 45 -- Donald Washington, (CB), Ohio State -- 2009 45 -- Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin -- 2001 45 -- Chris Conley, (WR), Georgia -- 2015 44 1/2 -- Byron Jones, (CB), Connecticut -- 2015 44 -- A.J. Jefferson, (CB), Fresno State -- 2010 44 -- Obi Melifonwu, (SS), Connecticut -- 2017 43 1/2 -- Speedy Noil, (WR), Texas AM -- 2017 43 1/2 -- Dorin Dickerson, (TE), Pittsburgh -- 2010 43 1/2 -- Kashif Moore, (WR), Connecticut -- 2012 43 1/2 -- Dustin Fox, (FS), Ohio State -- 2005 43 1/2 -- Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa -- 2001 43 1/2 -- Marcus Williams, (FS), Utah -- 2017 43 -- Cedric James, (WR), Texas Christian -- 2001 43 -- Eric Berry, (FS), Tennessee -- 2010 43 -- Darius Butler, (CB), Connecticut -- 2009 43 -- Christine Michael, (RB), Texas AM -- 2013 43 -- Scott Starks, (CB), Wisconsin -- 2005 42 1/2 -- Jarett Dillard, (WR), Rice -- 2009 42 1/2 -- Davis Tull, (OLB), Chattanooga -- 2015 42 1/2 -- Nate Burleson, (WR), Nevada -- 2003 42 1/2 -- Brock Williams, (CB), Notre Dame -- 2001 42 1/2 -- Virgil Green, (TE), Nevada -- 2011 

Longest Broad Jump: 12'03" -- Byron Jones, (CB), Connecticut -- 2015 11'08" -- Obi Melifonwu, (SS), Connecticut -- 2017 11'07" -- Jamie Collins, (OLB), Southern Miss -- 2013 11'07" -- Chris Conley, (WR), Georgia -- 2015 11'06" -- Alvin Dupree, (DE), Kentucky -- 2015 11'05" -- Scott Starks, (CB), Wisconsin -- 2005 11'05" -- Justin Fargas, (RB), Southern California -- 2003 11'04" -- Jerome Simpson, (WR), Coastal Carolina -- 2008 11'04" -- Justin Hunter, (WR), Tennessee -- 2013 11'04" -- Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State -- 2005 11'04" -- Terence Newman, (CB), Kansas State -- 2003 11'03" -- Jalen Ramsey, (FS), Florida State -- 2016 11'03" -- Daniel Lasco, (RB), California -- 2016 11'03" -- Robert Davis, (WR), Georgia State -- 2017 11'03" -- Boss Bailey, (OLB), Georgia -- 2003 11'03" -- Donald Washington, (CB), Ohio State -- 2009 11'03" -- Hilton Alexander, (WR), Morris Brown -- 2001 11'03" -- Julio Jones, (WR), Alabama -- 2011 11'03" -- Malachi Dupre, (WR), LSU -- 2017 11'03" -- Fabian Moreau, (CB), UCLA -- 2017 11'02" -- Earl Wolff, (SS), North Carolina State -- 2013 11'02" -- Cedric James, (WR), Texas Christian -- 2001 11'02" -- Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin -- 2001 11'02" -- Dekoda Watson, (OLB), Florida State -- 2010 11'02" -- Lache Seastrunk, (RB), Baylor -- 2014 

Frank Cooney, founder and publisher of The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com, covered the draft since 1967 and has been on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee for 25 years.